Homily for Saturday Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 2 October, 2022. The Memorial of St. John Paul II

 Readings: Eph.4:7-16, Ps 122 , Luke 13:1-9

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

MAKING EVERY MOMENTS OF OUR  LIVES  AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT LESS WE PERISH

With the ugly situation in our country today, there is no doubt that both the poor and the rich are testifying to it suffering in our society. Hence, we can fill the struggles, the kidnapping, the killings, flooding, the tears, the disappointments that people are passing through everyday. In fact, some people are losing hope in themselves and even in everything they do, as they run up and down seeking for solutions. The poor are seeking for daily bread, upliftment and favour, the rich are seeking for protection and good health, while the evil ones are taking advantage of the situation to destroy the little hope and faith of the people. All these are signs from God who gives us the opportunity to repent from our sinful ways of life.

This is what Jesus is telling us in our Gospel passage today when he said: “Do you suppose the Galileans who suffered like this were greater sinners than any other Galileans? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Then with a parable of the barren fig tree, Jesus demonstrated how God has made every moment of our lives an opportunity for us to repent and be fruitful. This is clear when he said in the parable, “Look, for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the man replied “leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.”  

Such is God’s patience with us for he gives us the opportunity to turn away from our sinful and ugly ways of life. Repentance is the key message of this Gospel, for Jesus makes it clear that those who suffered and were killed were not worse offenders than others, rather he uses the opportunity to call us to repentance. Note that, the purpose of this message is not for condemnation but redemption. This is what St. Paul is emphasizing in our first reading saying: we shall not be children any longer, or be tossed one way or another and carried along by every wind of doctrine, at the mercy of all the tricks men play and their cleverness in practicing deceit. But if we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow in all ways into Christ, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together. This is what we have in the life and personality of St. John Paul Il whose memorial we celebrate today.

Dear friends, this call for repentance shows us that it is not too late for us to repent, for this may be the last opportunity. Because we can never tell what will happen in the next moment. We can never tell who is the next to die, we can never know the form it will take or where it will occur, all that matters is for us to repent now that we still have the opportunity. Therefore, let us repent now, for repentance helps us to be well disposed in life and for death. It helps us to live right and at peace with God and with one another. It gives us the courage and confidence to face any situation without fear of death.

LET US PRAY: Almighty ever living God, You are the author of our lives, freedom and salvation, all we have are yours, thank you for being with us in our daily troubles, struggles, fears, tears, hope and joy. May you through the intercessions of St. Pope John Paul Il provide for the poor, console the troubled, heal the sick, protect and put simile on the faces of your children today and always. we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and safe weekend.

Homily for Friday Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 21st October, 2022

Readings: Eph.4:1-6, Ps 24 , Luke 12: 54-59

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HOW ARE YOU INTERPRETING THE SIGNS OF THIS PASSING WORLD 

As human person, we often tried to discern the event happening around us in order to predict what can be the outcome of such event in the future. We often read the signs of nature in order to make prediction of what will happen in the future. Little wonder Jesus while rebuking the crowd in our Gospel reading today said: when you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times.

Here, Jesus condemned the ugly attitudes of the crowds for they can read the signs of nature and so predict the future, but now out of jealousy and selfishness they have failed to recognize the truth by refusing to acknowledge in Jesus one who comes from God, one who speaks God’s word and acts in the power of God. So Jesus rebuked them for such hypocritical attitude. While in the second aspect of the Gospel, Jesus is asking us to put things right while there is still time. 

Thus St. Paul in our first reading implore us to lead a life worthy of our vocation. To bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience by preserving the unity of the Spirit, knowing that we are one Body, one Spirit, sharing the same hope in one Lord, one faith, one baptism in one God who is Father of all.

Dear friends, there are so many signs around us today. How are you interpreting the signs of this passing world, the signs that tell us that this world is passing by? What is our disposition towards this signs? Can we identify the signs of our time? How can we understand and interpret them? Are we reading the hand of God in what is going on around us especially in our country, societies and our families? How are we responding to these signs? What do we think Jesus would do if he is living with us now? Today, Jesus is calling us to discernment. We have to discern our actions towards the signs we see in our world today.  

Though, it is very easy to condemn the ugly situation going on in our country, societies and families, but, are we learning anything from it. Are we having any sense of guilt and repentance. Why allow this evil to linger in us by getting into endless arguments and deception when we already know what is right? Why wasting so much time arguing about unnecessary things while missing out the main points that are more basic and challenging. I think is time we come back to the real issues which are justice, honesty, transparency, equity, equal, love and respect for human life and properties. These are the things we all need to put right at all levels and sectors we find ourselves.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, in every event that happens to us, you said, has your mark on it. Help us to discern the signs of our time, in order to embrace your will for us and to follow you wherever you may lead us as we struggle to overcome the ugly situation in our country, societies and families. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. May God protect and keep us safe always.

Homily for Thursday Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 20th October, 2022

  Readings: Eph.3:14-21, Ps 32. , Luke 12: 49-53

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

ACCEPTING THE CONSEQUENCES THAT COME WITH THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL 

The way things are going in our societies today, we really need to think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of the ugly situation in our country today. Because the hostility, brutality, persecution and the influential power of the things of this world which has eaten deep into the minds of our leaders are not stopping soon, rather, it will be getting tougher unless we stop it now once and for all. 

Therefore, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way, for this days, it is not enough to say am a Christian, we must convincingly and radically practice our faith by following the example of our Lord Jesus. 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: 'Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against three; the father divided against the son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law’. 

Here, Jesus does not directly intend to cause tensions and divisions in family life, but he wants us to accept the consequences that comes with the truth of the Gospel teaching, more importantly, when it comes to living out the Gospel message in a radical way, especially in a situation where our family values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures and possessions, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God. 

So, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience, because there are moments when we have to make radical and difficult choice as disciples of Jesus. These moments may wield the sword of division or separation among those people and things which are so dear to us. 

However, Jesus does not endorse we engaging in armed conflict, but he warns that we have to struggle to put him first, before family ties, knowing that divisions will surely occur as people have to decide to be for or against God. Hence, he states that the cost of discipleship extends to one even losing his life. Because, following Jesus demands the sacrifice of all that one has. 

For none of us can become his true disciple if we do not give up our excess desire for worldly pleasures and possession, and pay our unreserved loyalty and allegiance to God over all other competing loyalties in our lives including family, self-interest, and possessions. And St. Paul in our first reading prayed for us to grow strong in faith and love from God our Father whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name

Dear friends, we are called today to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully live out our Christian faith and morals. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of our faith in God? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus? What is that habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow maybe too late.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards your, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires and attitudes, so as to hold firm in our faith despite losing people and things that are dear to us, as we ask you to heal and transform our nation once again. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily for Wednesday Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 19th October, 2022

 Readings: Eph.3:2-12, Isaiah 12, Luke 12: 39-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

AS MANAGERS OF GOD’S RESOURCES WE MUST STAND READY TO AVOID BEING RUBBED OF OUR EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY TREASURES

Oftentimes when I observed how people devote time and energy in rigorous preparation towards achieving their goals. I realized that adequate preparation is the secret and foundation of every successful event. Then I said to myself, if we can go to this length of rigorous periods of preparation just for things of this passing world, it will be even more demanding when it has to do with preparing for eternal life. 

Therefore, if we can devote such time and energy towards our spiritual life which we often neglect, we will be more awake and prepared for the day of the Lord. This is what Jesus is telling us in our Gospel passage today, when he said to his disciples: “be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ Then he used the parable of faithful and wise steward to make this point clearer. And he concluded by saying: when a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.’

In this passage we have two commands at the beginning and at the end which are not quite the same. The first command is based on God’s coming at a “day” when you do not know and the second have to do with managing the responsibility entrusted to us. For, just like the householder’s ignorance of the time when the thief would come is the reason why he does not watch. Thus, our ignorance of the day and time should be the reason for our watchfulness in order to prevent being robbed. So the image of the thief is chosen to illustrate the unexpected approach of the second coming of Christ which will be a great surprise to those who are asleep as they will be robbed of Heaven and even their earthly treasures.

Hence, Jesus commanded us to stay awake, because we do not know either the day or the hour when the Lord will come. And St. Paul in our first reading says:  I, who am less than the least of all the saints have been entrusted with this special grace, not only of proclaiming to the pagans the infinite treasure of Christ but also of explaining how the mystery is to be dispensed. So, how are we managing the responsibility entrusted to us, especially the responsibility of managing our lives and also the lives and properties entrusted to us on a great deal of which great deal is expected from us? 

Dear friends, as managers of God’s resources, we must stand ready to avoid being rubbed of our earthly and heavenly treasures. We must be courageous, wise, patient and prudent, knowing that our lives as Christians demands that we should be alert. We should be prepared at all times and be ready to make sacrifices like the faithful and wise stewards. We should be watchful for we know neither the day nor the hour when the Lord will call us. Hence, we are reminded today that this world is passing away, so we need to stay awake and be ready, as we look into our inner being, our interior life in order to embrace the life of holiness and self-control that will help us to be more prepared. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we often failed to listen to your warnings concerning the things of this passing world and the need for us to stay awake and be ready for your coming, give us the grace and wisdom to be well prepared to stand before you whenever you call us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Tuesday Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 18th October, 2022, The Feast of St. Luke The Evangelist

 Readings: 2Tim. 4:10-17; Ps. 145; Luke 10:19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT AND HOW ARE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE MISSIONARY MANDATE OF CHRIST?

One of our responsibilities as Christians is to fulfill the missionary mandate of Christ and throughout the history of the Church, we have great men and women who have contributed greatly to this mission. Today we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, one of the four great Evangelist of our Christian faith. According to traditions St. Luke was probably a Hellenised Jew or a Greek who embraced the Christian faith as one of the earliest converts among the earliest disciples of Jesus Christ. He was known as a physician and highly educated and intelligent, which made it possible for him to be able to give us a well detailed account for the very important events about the life and ministry of Jesus in Gospel account according to Luke and the life and mission of Christ’s disciples in Act of Apostles as inspired by the Holy Spirit.

No doubt St. Luke through his Gospel account has converted many to the Christian faith, turning many people towards the Lord and calling them to embrace his truth and love. Therefore Luke has proved himself to be a great disciple by demonstrating the act of being a good missionary for we heard in our Gospel passage today, how the Lord appointed seventy-two persons and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house! 

Here, Jesus  gave us the requirements for carrying out his missionary mandate successfully. So, to continue this great mission he invites his disciples and sent them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God. Hence, we should offer to others what we have received from  God just like St Luke, knowing that it has cost us nothing. We must live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, we are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunately, many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecutions from people, who through their rebellious attitude have refused to believe in God even though He has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving us.

So, as we celebrate this feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, let us be inspired by his faith and commitment, for we heard in our first reading today how he stood firm for St. Paul even when others deserted him. Let us follow his examples as we carryout our own missionary mandates no matter how insignificant it may be. We should not underrate our efforts or think that it is impossible for us to be like St. Luke because of our background or level of exposures. Rather we should know that God has called his disciples from different backgrounds and works of life,: the poor, the rich, some educated, some illiterate, some privileged and powerful, while others weak and not insignificant. So our background and level does not really matter. What is important is our attitude towards the missionary mandate entrusted to us at any level we find ourselves..

But dear friends, what is our attitude today towards the missionary mandate of Christ? How are we contributing towards the missionary mandate of Christ? How has the Word of God shaped our lives? Today, as we celebrate the feast of St Luke, we recall his great contributions to the Church and the Christian faithful. For just as St Luke gave us the Gospel account and the Act of the Apostles as inspired by the Holy Spirit, we as disciples of Christ, have also received a lot from God and his saints without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward. Calling us to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received from God and give freely to others that which we have received. For this act of charity will purify us from pride and self-righteousness, because we are all recipients of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, favour, protection, healing and deliverance. So, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today as we celebrate the feast of St. Luke you gave us the requirements and nature of our missionary mandate. Help us to effectively follow these requirements just like St Luke did. We ask this through Christ our Lord Amen. Do have a favourable week.

Homily For Monday Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 17th October, 2022. The Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch

 Readings: Eph 2:1:10, Ps.100, Luke 12:13-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO DETACH AND SHARE YOUR WORLDLY POSSESSIONS WITH OTHERS

There is no doubt that material things of this passing world is very necessary for our well-being. In fact they are gifts from God and he alone gives us the right to them. But what we possess is meant to help us grow in our relationship with God and neighours not to separate us from them, because if we are not careful, too much love for material possession can be an obstacle on our way towards God’s Kingdom. Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today warns us against covetousness and excessive attachment to worldly possessions. This he greatly emphasized with the story of the rich Man Harvest. 

In this story a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, “What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops.” Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time.” But God said to him, “Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then.

Here, Jesus tells his disciples about the need to live a life of detachment. He used this story to teach his disciples and all of us about the futility of worldly desires and it’s pursuits. Thereby showing us the foolishness of human greed, as well as pride and ego. For in this man we see the uselessness of human selfishness, covetousness and excess desire for worldly possession, as he constantly focused only on himself saying I will do this, I will do that, ‘my goods, my fruits, my barns, my soul, etc, without any interest or room for his neighbours or the poor. He has no thought of God, nor of his own servants. If he had looked a little beyond himself, he would have seen many places where he could have bestowed his crops.  Thus, there is need for us to constantly prune ourselves from excess love for material possession of this passing world. 

The fact remains, that, material possessions in themselves are good, for we would not survive for long without them, but excess attachment to it at the expense of eternal life is grade one suicide. No doubt, it is difficult to give out or share our possession, but the ones who give up everything are the ones who receives more in this life as well as in heaven. For St. Paul tells us in our first reading that, we all like those in the past are living sensual lives, ruled entirely by our own physical desires and our own ideas; so that by nature we were as much under God’s anger as the rest of the world. But God loved us with so much love that he was generous with his mercy: when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life with Christ.

Dear friends, detaching and sharing what we possess with others especially the poor is a sure way to finding life, peace, happiness. And Jesus is telling us that it will be difficult for us to enter his kingdom when we choose to attach ourselves in the riches of this passing world. Though material possessions are gifts from God and he alone gives us the right to have them, but what we possess is not meant to separate us from God, rather, they should help us to grow in our relationship with God and neighours.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are living in a world where materialism is the order of the day, through the intercessions of St Ignatius of Antioch help us to learn how to live a life of detachment and prune us always from the sin of covetousness and pride, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.

Homily For Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 16th October, 2022

 Reading: Exo. 17:8-13; Ps.121; 2Tim.3:14-4:2; Luke:18:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DON’T GIVE UP SO EASILY FOR PRAYER SOMETHING REQUIRES PERSEVERANCE AND PERSISTENCY 

There are times when we asked and we received, sought and found, knocked and it was opened to us. But there were also times when we asked but did not receive, seek but did not find, knocked but the doors remained shut. In such moments what should we do? Quit or persist in our request?

Jesus in our Gospel passage today gave us the answer to this question. For using the parable of the widow and the unjust judge he addressed the issues of faith in difficult times and the need to persevere in prayer. Here Jesus reassures us that God hears our prayers. He tells us that we need to pray continually and never lose heart. In this parable Jesus is not comparing God to an unjust judge,  but he is saying that if through perseverance one obtains justice from an unjust judge, how much more will we receive our hearts desires from a good and loving Father? For persevering in prayer teaches us that God does not need to be informed of our needs, rather he is training us to learn how to be patient with life situations and struggles.

The parable also serves to encourage those suffering from injustice to continue with their struggles and also the call for justice for everyone. In this parable, we learn how we should persist in our complaints, and prayerfully confront unjust authorities in order to effect the change needed for justice to reign. Thus, Jesus is encouraging us never to lose heart in times of injustice and challenges of life, rather, we should approach God with confidence, persisting until we obtain what we need. We should keep on asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer until we obtain the answer we need. 

This is what we heard in our first reading today when we heard how the people of Israel was victorious in the battle at Rephidim. For as long as Moses kept his arms raised, Israel had the advantage; when he let his arms fall, the advantage went to Amalek. And when Moses’ arms grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him to support him. Also Aaron and Hur supporting his arms, one on one side, one on the other; and his arms remained firm till sunset. And with the edge of the sword Joshua cut down Amalek and his people and victory was granted to the chosen people of God. This teaches us that sometimes prayer requires the support of others especially in difficult situations, for we need one another. 

Now we can understand the value of praying for one another. Yes, there is strength and strong connection when we pray together or support one another in prayers. For it is often said that the family that prayers together stays together. Prayer has the power to strengthen families and improve relationships, that’s precisely why we need to have a special prayer place for everyone in our family. Our Family prayer is the bound that holds us together. It’s the spiritual foundation of our home which is a solid base that gives our children the security and confidence to face challenges in life. This is why we need to teach our children the important of prayers and the need to inspire them to pray and study the scriptures.

Little wonder St. Paul in our second reading today says: all scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work. He continues: I put this duty to you, in the name of Christ Jesus and of his kingdom: proclaim the message in season and out of season, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience. But do all with patience and with the intention of teaching.

Dear friends, have you been truly in need of something from a friend who is capable of give you what you need but has not yet giving it to you? Or have you been in a situation where you needed something from a friend but cannot get it because you can not reach him or does not know how to reach him easily? Such a situation can make one to be under serious pressure. Then the question that comes to mind is, are we going to give up or persevere in our struggles of waiting and reaching out to him? This kind of disposition is what we experience sometimes when we pray and our requests are yet to be granted. 

In such moments we should not give up easily for sometime prayers require persistency and perseverance. For these will help us to understand how to trust God, knowing that he does not need to be informed of our needs, thereby encouraging us never to lose heart. This is certainly one of the biggest challenges of our faith today, for people are not ready to wait for God’s time. Let me ask you a question? “As good parents who love their children, if your seven years old son walk up to the Father who his capable to give his son anything he asks saying:  father I want you to give me the car key for I wish to own and drive a car. 

As a good and loving father what will you do? Give him the car key immediately because you can afford it knowing that the car at this stage of his life will put his life and the life of other people in danger? Or will not rather ask him to wait for the right time when he is matured enough and passed through driving school, then he will be able to manage the car properly?” This is how God relates with us as our loving Father. But we are not just patient with God. We want to have everything right now as it is hot without knowing if it is the right time and right thing for us to have. The fact remains that patient, persistency and perseverance help us to conform our will to God’s will, but I  don’t know why these are very difficult virtue for most people acquire today. Let us learn to be patient with God in prayers, let us learn to wait for God’s time, knowing that God’s time is always the best for us. Let us not give up so easily especially in difficult and challenges situations. Let us learn how to wait on God’s intervention through our persistent in prayer.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, oftentimes we are not patient with you in our prayers, give us the grace to persevere and be persistent in our prayer life and in every other things we do in life, especially in our relationship with others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful Sunday celebration.